'-•;: BOTANY. 



BASSIA. 



In the southern Provinces, the bassia tree is quite 

 abundant in a few localities ; and it is said to afford a tim- 

 ber in no way inferior to teak. 

 Bassia longifoUa. 



ootScoSg fiJ09i. c8S?j5ii 



IRON WOOD TREE. 



Tins is a species of the old genus acacia, and the tim- 

 ber is usually denominated iron wood in Arracan, and is 

 sometimes so called in these Provinces. The hard wood 

 is as impervious to white ants as teak, and is even more 

 durable in the ground. Natives have assured me that 

 they have seen house posts of this wood taken up 

 after having stood forty years, and that the part which 

 had been buried was as sound as new timber. The trees 

 abound in the province of Tavoy, especially near the 

 forks of the Tenasserim. 



Inga xy hear Da. 



Acacia " 



FAGRiEA. 



The fagrrea yields a very hard and excellent timber, 

 which Mr. O' Riley says the teredo will not attack. The 

 Burmese regard it as too good for the laity, and say it 

 ought to be confined to sacerdotal purposes. At Tavoy 

 it is used principally for the posts of Buddhist edifices. 

 Fagrcca fragrans. 



EBONY. 



The Karens have distinctive names for four different 

 species of ebony trees. The salt water swamp ebony, the 

 water ebony, the yellow ebony, and the true ebony. T 

 have never met with the trees in flower, so as to be able 

 to distinguish the species ; but I have seen specimens of 



